Anxiety — all decisions

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and GAD, as well as tinnitus.

The Board denied an increased rating higher than 70 percent for the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, finding that his symptoms did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran was granted a rating of total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based upon service-connected disorders effective July 20, 2022, and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) pursuant to 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 for the same effective date.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety disorder, and unspecified trauma- and stressor-related disorder, but denied service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, cervical strain, left breast cancer, and a left arm condition.

The Board granted service connection for a heart disability, to include coronary artery disease (CAD), as secondary to the Veteran's anxiety and assigned a 70 percent rating from April 29, 2025. The Board also granted an initial 30 percent rating prior to that date.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for generalized anxiety disorder and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation post ablation, finding the evidence did not support a higher rating. The claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and anxiety, as it was fully granted. The claim for Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ) secondary to tension headaches is remanded due to an inadequate examination.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, emphysema, a chest wall condition, PTSD, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, chronic, a low back condition, TBI, and a chest tumor.

The Board remands the claim for further development, including verification of an in-service stressor and obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability due to his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, as the evidence did not show that he was unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee, ankle, and leg disabilities.

The Board denied higher initial ratings for the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and knee disabilities but granted service connection for premature ventricular contractions (PVC) claimed as a heart condition.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including a generalized anxiety disorder as the evidence did not support a finding that such condition was incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied an effective date earlier than April 9, 2024, for the assignment of a 70 percent evaluation for insomnia disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder.

The Board granted a staged disability rating of 70 percent for the service-connected generalized anxiety disorder from January 8, 2024, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, as the evidence did not support a finding that his current mental health conditions were related to his active duty service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for gastrointestinal problems and PTSD, and denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. The issue of a separate evaluation for bulimia nervosa was remanded.

The veteran withdrew all pending appeals on April 28, 2025.

The Board granted service connection for eye conditions, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction and left eye retinopathy. However, it denied increased ratings for multiple peripheral neuropathies, hypertension, and status post tympanoplasty.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and foot disabilities. The claim for NSC pension benefits was dismissed as moot due to a higher disability rating.